Comments on: Can I call myself a Southerner yet?

By: Joseph Hertzlinger

Joseph Hertzlinger — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:28:44 +0000

I thought voting Republican was traditional Yankee behavior that was brought to the South by Yankee Imperialist settlers (such as the Bush family).

By: John M.

John M. — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:37:34 +0000

You pretty much have to start using the second-person plural (“yall”) or you’re still a carpetbagger.

By: Michael Lonie

Michael Lonie — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:08:40 +0000

All y’all forgot that to become a true Southerner Meryl also will have to learn the difference between a redneck and a good ole boy.

There is a book called “How To Speak Southern” but, alas, I think it is out of print.

Another mysterious language inhabiting the Anglosphere is Strine. That’s what they speak in Australia (aka Oz).

By: Ben F

Ben F — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:31:17 +0000

Oops! How the Sam Hill did that “it” get in there?

By: Ben F

Ben F — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:30:00 +0000

A friend’s quick summary of Southern-speak:

Indn’t didn’t it dudn’t wudn’t y’all.

Other useful tests:

How many syllables are there in the word “van”? In the name “Karen”?

Use “y’all” and “all y’all” correctly in a sentence.

By: saus

saus — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:23:35 +0000

Awesome & amusing post in every way. I think we need to start a new ‘birthright’ program and begin moving more Jews from NY & NJ southward clearly, in general.

By: Stretch

Stretch — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Gettin’ there. A few suggestions (some of which have been touched upon):
Order tea sweet (aka 40 weight tea) when ever possible.
Take your bourbon only with water (no ice).
Added the words “Big ol’” to descriptions of trucks or cars.
The synagogue precludes “real” BBQ and scrapple but Beef BBQ qualifies.
Grits are perfect for breakfast or patching the driveway, timing is everything.
Do you own videos of:
Smoky and the Bandit?
Cool Hand Luke?
Thunder Road?

By: Veeshir

Veeshir — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:31:07 +0000

I moved to Virginia years ago too and had mostly similar experiences except I didn’t become
more religious and I was already conservative, but I have some to add.
I’ve used, “Ya’all” in a sentence.
Properly.

And I’ve also used the word “fixing” in a future tense. As in, “I’m fixin’ to …(do that)”.
That one set me back.

By: Elisson

Elisson — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:58:15 +0000

You still have not tasted of the Chatham Artillery Punch. And I see no mention of grits.

But that’s merely a quibble. The real question is, would you rather be in Virginia amongst the Virginians, or in New Jersey? If you give the nod to Virginia, I’d give you leave to call yourself a Southerner… by choice, rather than birth.

Based on my experience with religious converts – Jews by choice are often far more committed to their belief system than Jews by birth – I’d say you have the edge. You voted with your feet. And your moving truck.

By: Eric J

Eric J — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:52:50 +0000

I don’t see anything on that list about drinking sweet tea, so no.

I just realized that I’ve lived more than half of my life in the south. In fact I had as of about 3 years ago. (Unless you count living on Duke campus as not living in the south, in which case I say “fair enough.”)